Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a privilege to stand here during Youth Voice in Parliament Week to present a speech written by 14-year-old Joshua Patrick from Northam, which is in the great electorate of Durack. I was very impressed by Joshua's understanding of some of the key issues affecting regional and remote Western Australia. I truly appreciate the effort that he has gone to to ensure that his experience is heard. This is what Joshua wrote:

Having personally had lived experience, or had those in my immediate family experience disability; caring role and accompanying poverty; complex medical issues and unnecessary health system battles; the inherent isolation and diminished opportunities for those living in regional (and remote) WA; and domestic violence and sexual abuse, I am well-placed to comment on what the new Parliament should achieve. I am also a passionate, creative experimenter in the realm of affordable, achievable, sustainable environmental practices and solutions.

The recommendations I would prioritise, are:

I hope you will see that I am well-placed to make the above recommendations knowledgeably and from a position of rare and unique insight, due to the diverse range of life circumstances I have personally experienced in my life.

That's the end of Joshua's speech. Thank you, Joshua, very much, for your incredibly thoughtful contribution. I look forward to meeting you soon in Northam to discuss your priorities further.

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